
DATE: Monday, September 29, 1997            TAG: 9709290054

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: Decision 97 

SOURCE: BY ROGER CHESLEY 

        CORRESPONDENT  

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:  113 lines

COUNCIL CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS FOR ELIZABETH CITY

It's hard to pigeon-hole the two candidates in the Oct. 7 election here who want to serve the 1st Ward on City Council. Sure, there are some obvious differences between Lloyd E. Griffin III, 36, and Shirley S. Simpson, 54. The incumbent is a white man, Republican and single. The challenger is a black woman, Democrat and divorced mother of four adult children.

But much of their platforms for the city seem similar: economic development, reduced crime and more jobs.

``With the amount of growth that we're experiencing . . . new home construction, small retail, commercial, manufacturing businesses relocating to the area, Elizabeth City . . . is preparing for the future,'' said Griffin, a corporate salesman and purchaser for Greitzer Inc., which makes stainless steel kitchen equipment.

``We don't have a lot that would entice (major) industries to come into the area,'' said Simpson, founder and executive director of the Elizabeth City Opportunities Industrialization Center, formerly the Hugh Cale OIC, which is a social service agency. ``We're growing, but we've become a totally service area.''

Griffin can tout his tenure on City Council, which began with the 1991 election and includes work on the Public Safety, Finance and Solid Waste committees. He wants to continue pushing drainage projects to ease flooding and to see whether the city can establish industrial parks.

Simpson, a former beauty shop manager, can point to her long career in community development, particularly in the Shepard-Cale neighborhood area where she lives and works. Her organization has provided latchkey and job training programs; GED, college prep and SAT courses; and has been a meeting site for Narcotics Anonymous.

Simpson's work with her clients, many of them poor, spurs her commitment to bring better-paying jobs to the city.

She said she thinks she can do a better job than Griffin, though she said she has no animosity toward him: ``Lloyd and I are friends.''

Ward 1 contains parts of downtown and includes the Riverside area, the Shepard-Cale neighborhood, and businesses along East Main and East Colonial Avenue.

There are 2,012 registered voters in Ward 1, said Glenda Crane, director of the Pasquotank County Board of Elections. Of that total, 1,291 are white, and 705 are black. There are 1,326 registered Democrats, 429 Republicans, 255 independents and two Libertarians.

The four-year term pays $4,704 annually.

Endorsements might play a role in the election. Two groups, the Inner City Forum and the Police Benevolent Association, have formally backed Simpson.

``She'll do a good job for the city. Her platform to be there for the people and have open government is genuine,'' said Paul Bryant, president of the forum. The predominantly African-American group is an advocate for the underprivileged, fights crime and drug use in black neighborhoods, and carries heavy political weight here.

The police organization believes Simpson ``is pro-law enforcement,'' said Sam Keith, president of the PBA's Albermarle chapter and an investigator with the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Department. ``She lives in the Shepard Street area, and she wants a safe city.''

Neither endorsement, however, means that the groups will donate money to the candidates. Some of the groups' members, however, might volunteer for Simpson.

Griffin said he hasn't received any endorsements. But he feels he can continue to be productive on City Council.

He cited his work on six city budgets, civic meetings on crime that resulted in more street lighting and police activity in certain neighborhoods, and plans to increase tourism in the area. He has a bachelor of science degree in business administration and economics from North Carolina State University.

Earlier this year, Simpson became a co-chairperson on the new Elizabeth City Community-Police Leadership Group, which has worked with new Police Chief William Lloyd. But she said their relationship has been strained since a meeting in August, after Lloyd sent out a newsletter seeking support for some of his initiatives.

``We're having some problems,'' she said. ``It's headed toward a political program.''

Whatever the outcome in the election, both Griffin and Simpson say they want what's best for the city.

``As a native of Elizabeth City, I want to see Elizabeth City continue to grow at a structured pace,'' said Griffin.

Adds Simpson: ``I'm really concerned about this community.'' ILLUSTRATION: ELIZABETH CITY - WARD 1

LLOYD E. GRIFFIN III

Occupation: Corporate sales and purchasing for Greitzer Inc.

Community involvement: Elizabeth City Rotary Club, Pasquotank River

Yacht Club.

Previous political experience: First elected to City Council for

Ward 1 in 1991, to fill unexpired term of H. Rick Gardner.

Re-elected in 1993. Has served on Public Safety, Public Works and

Finance committees. Since 1993, mayoral appointee to the Solid Waste